Do you care about the idea of an “iCar”?

So, I’ve been kind of ignoring this whole iCar business, primarily out of a lack of interest on my part. However, after reading about it again today, I though that I better at least bring it up here.

I have to say that I don’t really see what the big deal about this is. If VW or anyone else intergrates an Apple built car stereo system into a car, I don’t think that’s going to affect my buying decision on a car in any way, shape or form.

Since I work at home, and don’t really spend too much time in a car, I may not be the best person in the world to judge this type of thing, but to me, if Apple wants built-in car stereos, I don’t see why they don’t just build a car stereo.

Sure, it’d be nice to get it integrated into a factory vehicle, but doing that is going to take years. It’ll be 2012 or later before we see something come from those talks…even if they start the paperwork today.

I don’t know, I guess I can see where it would be appealing to some buyers, but I’m sure that a fully integrated system like that is going to have a serious luxury price tag behind it. Maybe that’s why I’m not interested…I’m already convinced that I won’t be able to afford it.

😛

Regardless, I just can’t seem to get interested in this idea. What do you think? Would an Apple integrated system in a VW make you buy them over another brand of car?

I don’t see the point either. Who knows what the state of the ipod will be in 2012. Just think, if someone in 2002 asked you about what the iPod would be doing in 2007 would anyone have ever though iPhone/iPod Touch? Not on your life!

There are so many car integration options on the market already. Dozens of car manufacturers are already offering iPod itegration. Why VW and the notion of an iCar are getting all this attention is beyond me.

I saw a car stereo on eBay not too long ago that was only $50. It had a built in USB port right on the front of the display. You can plug in any USB device and play your mp3 through the car stereo without the loss in quiality heard using FM transmitters. Sounds like a good deal to me.

I’m in the other camp. I recently bought a 2006 Scion xA partly because of the iPod integration package the original owner had installed. Since I spend 2 hours a day commuting (1 hour each way), having something to listen to (that I actually like) makes a critical difference in my quality of life.

In my previous car I fiddled with cassette adapters and FM transmitters, which were cumbersome, took my eyes off the road when I had to fool with it, and had inferior sound quality. Direct connection is definitely the way to go for sound quality, and having the interface on the dashboard and in the steering wheel is a big plus for safety.

What I’m looking forward to is a riff on the recently-announced Amazon store thing, but with HD or satellite radio. Hear a song on HD or satellite radio you like, but don’t have in your iTunes library? I want to be able to press a button and have track info stored onto the iPod, and the next I sync it shows up in ITMS in a special pane, for further investigation, and perhaps purchase.

I wouldn’t buy a VW, but I would like Apple somewhat involved in my car. I doubt its just a stereo in the car, I’m sure its much more than that. Besides Apples worked with Jaguar on their new car, and Mercedes too.

Indeed. If it’s just iPod integration, it’s nice but trivial. But to talk about the iCar, it sounds like much, much more. Apple are the best mainstream designers of human/electronics interfaces in the universe. BMW’s effort in this direction (iDrive) is a confusing, embarrassing mess, world’s worst practice. Other car makers’ efforts are better, but not much. If Apple can transform the whole way the driver interacts with the electronic functions of the vehicle, make it simple, intuitive and a recurring source of pleasure – which is what Apple does so well – then yes, I’ll be very excited, and it will be a significant consideration in my choice of car.